The NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC) offers Diversity Enhancement Grants of up to $5,000 to educational institutions to support the advancement of diversity within the athletic training profession. Grant applications are currently being accepted for the 2021 grant cycle and are due Oct. 1.
“If there is a project idea with the goal to develop various programs intended to recruit, retain and educate ethnically diverse athletic training students; disseminate information relating to health care issues and conditions relevant to ethnically diverse populations; or enhance the professional development and stature of ethnically diverse athletic trainers to better serve the profession, apply for the NATA EDAC Diversity Enhancement Grant,” said EDAC District Six Rep. Shaketha Pierce, MEd, LAT, ATC.
EDAC has made planning grants available to educational institutions seeking to enhance ethnic diversity within the profession. These grants may be awarded to educational institutions under one of the following three categories:
- Category One: Develop various programs intended to recruit, retain and educate ethnically diverse athletic training student with the intent to increase the number of ethnically diverse certified athletic trainers.
- Category Two: Disseminate information relating to health care issues and conditions relevant to ethnically diverse populations (sickle cell disease, lactose intolerance, at-risk populations, Blount's Disease, hypertension, etc.).
- Category Three: Enhance the professional development and stature of ethnically diverse athletic trainers to better serve the profession (ultimately leading to an increased representation of ethnically diverse leaders at both the district and national level).
Pierce said the grant has funded career days for high school students, education infographics for medical conditions affecting ethnically diverse populations and promotion of the athletic training profession in ethnically diverse areas where ATs are not as prominent.
“Please consider applying for the EDAC grant,” said EDAC Chair Darryl Conway, MA, AT, ATC. “These grant opportunities are a great way to help the profession increase the ethnic diversity within the NATA now and for the foreseeable future.”
For more information, including requirements and the grant application, visit the Diversity Enhancement Grant webpage.
